BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max review

The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max air purifier is similar in design and functionality to the original Blue Pure 411 model, but it offers better air-cleaning performance, improved noise reduction and a more compact build. According to the brand, it is one of the best models they have made so far. It is also priced at a reasonable $169.99, making the Blue Pure 411i Max an attractive alternative to more premium models. But can this wallet-friendly air purifier live up to expectations?

If it delivers on its promises, the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max could be one of the best air purifiers on the market right now. Designed for small to medium-sized rooms, this neat-looking appliance claims to remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns, cleaning 219 square feet in 12.5 minutes or up to 526 square feet in 30 minutes.

It is also relatively quiet. The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max is equipped with patented HEPASilent technology, which boosts the power of HEPA filters with electrostatic forces. This air purifier charges harmful air particles right before they reach the filter, making them adhere to it more easily — a strategy that helps reduce the reliance on noisy fans for circulating the air. The cherry on top? The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max is Energy Star certified and promises to use less energy than an LED lightbulb.

BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max review

BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max: Design

• Light, compact and portable
• Simple, neutral design
• Easy to use and maintain
• Does not measure particles smaller than 2.5 microns in size

The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max does not reinvent the wheel. Like many other air purifiers on the market, it is cylinder-shaped with controls on the top. However, this simple design is one of its greatest strengths. The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max is portable, easy to use and can easily blend in with most house decors.

Weighing only 7.5 lbs (3.4kg), the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max is on the light side but remains relatively stable due to its tapered, conical design. Even though this tower air purifier does not feature handles, it is easy to pick up thanks to its sleek and compact build.

Unlike most air purifiers on the market, it is partly wrapped in a washable pre-filter designed to catch larger airborne particles such as dust or pet hair. This pre-filter comes in five stylish color options, all named after natural phenomena. For example, our 411iMax came in Stockform Fog, a tasteful gray shade. There is a caveat, though — the pre-filter needs to be washed regularly, and putting it on and off can be a bit of a hassle (think putting a fitted sheet on a mattress). Cat owners should also be aware that this piece of fabric may be enticing for their pets to sharpen their claws on.

The control buttons on the top of the unit make it easy to switch between different modes and are very intuitive to use. It features a simple five-color air quality indicator on the front of the unit, but it only measures air particles measuring 2.5 microns in size and greater, so it may not pick up on smaller air pollutants, such as bacteria or certain mold spores.

The HEPA filter needs to be replaced every six to nine months, which is comparable to other air purifiers on the market. The process for doing so is not too complicated — remove the noise shield, use the filter handles to pull out the old filter and replace it with a new one and put the noise shield back on. One filter replacement costs $59.90, which is on the pricier side for a HEPA filter of this size but remains within the industry standards we see on many of the best air purifiers.

BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max: Features

• Three fan speeds and two modes
• Smart features available in the BlueAir app 
• Air pollution graphs displayed in the app

The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max features three manually adjustable fan speeds and two modes. In Night Mode, the air purifier keeps the noise to a minimum, while in Auto Mode, it adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality readings. The 411i Max also allows for adjusting the brightness level of its air quality indicator and has a child lock.

Once you connect your 411i Max to the BlueAir app you can track its filter life, set schedules and timers, and even instruct your air purifier to go on standby when you leave the home and turn back on when you are getting close. The app will also display real-time and historical graphs of pollution levels in your home, helping you to identify spikes in air particles over time. The Blue Pure 411i Max can also be controlled remotely with an Alexa voice assistant.

BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max: Performance

• Quiet even at the highest fan setting
• Impressive air-cleaning performance  
• Great at removing smoke

The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max impressed us with its day-to-day performance. This air purifier quickly removed various air pollutants, from pollen coming in through an open window to cooking odors and lingering perfumes. We also liked how quiet it was ― most of the time we could barely hear it working. 

When we measured how loud it was with a Sound Meter decibel counting app, its noise levels ranged from 20 decibels (dB) on the lowest setting (equivalent to leaves rustling in the wind), to 45 dB on the highest fan speed (on par with sounds you would hear in a library). If you cherish a good night’s sleep, the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max will do a good job as a bedroom air purifier.

We also conducted a series of performance tests using an industry-grade air particle monitor. We measured air quality readings before and after each test and then calculated the differences. First, we did an ambient test. The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max was placed in a closed medium-sized room and left to run on Auto mode for 30 minutes. After the first 15 minutes we noted a 59% reduction in particles measuring 0.3 microns, and a 50% drop in air pollutants measuring 2.5 microns. After another 15 minutes, these values increased to 71% and 75%, respectively. When we repeated the test in a smaller room, our results improved by several percentage points. Given that we conducted our ambient tests on a day when the baseline air quality was relatively good, these numbers are impressive.

We also tested the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max against heavier air pollution. We started by burning 10 matches and then running the air purifier on Auto mode for 30 minutes. After the first 15 minutes, 0.3-micron particles were reduced by 93%, 2.5-micron pollutants dropped by 94% and the largest 10-micron particles decreased by 99.5%. After another 15 minutes, these values increased to 99.7%, 99.7% and 100%, respectively. When we repeated this test at its highest fan speed, the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max sucked up all pollutants within the first 15 minutes. After half an hour it left us with better air quality readings than when we started. We obtained equally impressive results in our incense test ― we burned five incense sticks and ran the air purifier to clean up the smoke.

BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max: User reviews

The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max is rated at an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars at Amazon, with more than three-quarters of users giving it a full five stars. Positive reviews praise this air purifier’s compact and light build, great air-cleaning performance, ease of use and assembly and good value for money. Many users were also impressed with how quiet it was. “On auto maintenance mode you can't hear the thing,” one buyer commented. 

Negative reviews often cite a musty smell coming from the unit, tricky filter changes and that it is easy to damage the pre-filter if not handled correctly. As one user said, “It generally takes two of us to pull the cloth pre-filter over the HEPA filter without creasing the fins. And, after an episode you will certainly only do once in your life, never decide to sterilize the cloth cover by washing it in hot water followed by a hot dryer. You'd think I would have learned my lesson the time I did that to my expensive cashmere sweater, turning it into a garment for my toddler. Did I forget to mention? Wash the cloth pre-filter under a cold tap and allow it to air dry.”

Should you buy the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max?

✅ The BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max is a great budget air purifier for small to medium-sized bedrooms. It is compact, whisper-quiet, and packed with smart features, but more importantly, it delivers excellent air-cleaning performance without draining your wallet or putting a strain on your energy bill.

❌ However, fans of interactive touchscreens, data-packed apps and futuristic designs may be unimpressed by the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max. This air purifier boasts great performance, but it lacks some of the hi-tech frills of more premium models.

If this product is not for you

The GermGuardian AC4825E is a great alternative to the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max. This compact air purifier features easy-to-use controls, a UV-C sanitizer for added protection against harmful microbes and a charcoal filter for reducing odors ―it also costs less than $100. 

Priced at $189.99, the Levoit Vital 200s is another great value option. Its specifications are very similar to the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max, but it features a chunkier design and an additional Pet mode.

However, for those who do not mind spending $229.99, the Coway AP-1512HH is another air purifier worth looking into. Rated by us as the best air purifier for saving energy, this quirky-looking appliance delivers great air-cleaning performance while minimizing energy use.

BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max: How we tested

We spent over three weeks testing the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max, assessing its design, features, performance, connectivity with third-party devices, and ease of use. We also measured how loud this air purifier is on different settings using a decibel-counting app and checked the cost of its replacement filter.

We also conducted a series of performance tests to assess its air-cleaning capabilities, all of which were done with an air particle monitor, an industry-grade device capable of detecting airborne pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. We started with an ambient air quality test, where we ran the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max on its auto mode for 15 and 30 minutes and noted the differences in the air quality readings over time.

Next, we performed several smoke tests to see how this air purifier handles severe pollution caused by burning matches and incense sticks. We recorded the changes in air quality readings before and after running the BlueAir Blue Pure 411i Max for 15 and 30 minutes on different settings.